Ecuador is liberally sprinkled with some of the world's highest peaks. Our acclimatisation starts with a challenging trek in the Pinan highlands of the Cotacachi-Cayapas Reserve before we head south to discover the well known Otavalo Indian market. We climb Imbabura Volcano for further acclimatisation before some training on ice skills on Cayambe's glacier. This will all combine to prepare us for the tough (but optional) ascent of Cotopaxi, the world's second highest active volcano. On Cotopaxi we climb with a ratio of one guide to every two trekkers to maximise our chance of summiting.

Walk profile

Daily distance in km/miles:

Day 3

14.0km/8.7miles

Day 4

12.0km/7.5miles

Day 5

15.0km/9.3miles

Day 6

10.0km/6.2miles

Day 7

20.0km/12.4miles

Day 9

15.0km/9.3miles

Day 10

4.0km/2.5miles

Day 11

5.0km/3.1miles

Day 13

3.0km/1.9miles

Day 14

4.0km/2.5miles

Number of days walking: 10

Pace: Challenging: 5-6km/3-4miles an hour

Terrain: High altitude; including steep, rocky terrain, snow and ice

Itinerary

Today we have a short orientation tour of the old colonial city of Quito, probably the most attractive of all the colonial capitals of South America. This will include driving up to the view point and statue known as El Panecillo, which has fantastic views over the city. As the city is at an altitude of approx 2850m, you should take it easy. Your tour leader will also do a full briefing about the trek today. This will include a thorough check on everyone's mountaineering equipment for the later parts of the trip. Luggage not required for the Pinan trek or Imbabura climb on day 9 can be left at the hotel in Quito. We will need a list of any rental equipment that you require at least 2 weeks before your arrival to prepare it for you. See more images and videos

3Day 3Acclimatisation hike at Cuicocha Crater Lake.

We head north from Quito along the Pan American Highway and after three hours reach Cuicocha Lake. This beautiful caldera (volcanic crater) is about 3km wide and was formed about 3100 years ago by a massive volcanic explosion. The undulating 14k trek around this lake will take about 5 hours. At approx 3050m - 3500m altitude it provides excellent acclimatisation for the days ahead. We then head northwards to Tumbabiro where we overnight in a stunning converted hacienda at the much more comfortable altitude of 2050m in Quito. Luggage not required for the Pinan trek can be left here as you will be returning to the hacienda after the trek.See more images and videos

4Day 4Start Pinan trek; walk to a small Indian village.

A short drive this morning brings us to the small village of Pablo Arenas (2400m) from where we start our trek towards San Francisco situated at 2900m. We begin on a wide track that affords spectacular views of the surrounding fertile countryside. Later we pass through typical mountain forest. The path is well marked and involves a series of steep ascents and descents with a final climb which leads us to our campsite, next to the village of San Francisco. Today's 12km walk should take around 5 to 6 hours. A packed lunch is included.See more images and videos

5Day 5Camp beside Yanacocha Lake.

Today our path begins with a steep ascent and soon leaves civilisation behind. We pass through beautiful, moss-clad polylepis mountain forests and paramo landscape. With a bit of luck we may even spot a condor. The highest point today is the pass at 4030m from where we gain views down to our lakeside campsite with Mount Yanaurco towering behind. Our overnight camp will be next to Yanacocha Lake at 3930m. Today's walk is 15km. Walking time approximately 8 hours.See more images and videos

6Day 6Climb the extinct volcano of Yanaurco (4530m).

Today we start our 7 to 8 hour 10km trek to the top of the extinct volcano of Yanaurco passing unique highland vegetation. The ascent is not technical but is steep with some light scambling near the top. The final part is a rocky ridge and the summit (4535m) is a striking natural garden with a pre-Inca altar. The descent affords incredible views towards the valley below. We will contunue to follow the trail down which then curves round the mountain towards the next campsite at 4000m.See more images and videos

7Day 7End Pinan trek; relax in hot springs.

From our camp at the Cucharo crater we walk over an oasis at 3960m to drop down to a valley. The path gradually becomes more defined as we trek through forest and continue descending to the next village, passing lush meadows where we'll stop to have our packed lunch. On a clear day Cyambe volcano can be seen in the distance. We end the trek at the welcoming medicinal hot springs of Chachimbiro (2500m) where we can relax and soothe any aching limbs. There is also a café at the springs where cold drinks and beer can be purchased. Our bus will meet us here for the drive back to the small village of Tumbabiro and our hacienda. The 20km hike will take 6 to 7 hours, most of which is a steady descent.See more images and videos

8Day 8Visit the Otavalo Indian Market.

We have a leisurely start at our hacienda this morning and then drive to Otavalo (about 90 minutes) where we will have a few hours free time at the famous and busy Saturday market, one of the most important and well known in the region. It is a fantastic place to watch the world go by as indigenous people from the surrounding villages dressed in pristine striking traditional costume frequent the market on a Saturday. Women wear embroidered blouses and long wool skirts whilst the men proudly parade their felt hats, navy blue ponchos and calf- length trousers. There are plenty of souvenirs to buy such as Panama hats, exquisite weaving and jewellery or you can relax at a café. Later we'll continue onto another hacienda just outside of the town with free time to rest.See more images and videos

9Day 9Summit Imbabura Volcano (4600m).

An early start as we leave our hacienda at 5am and drive south to the cloud forest and farms at the foot of Imbabura Volcano. This 4630m peak towers over the city of Ibarra and the peak can occasionally be snowclad. Nonetheless, the ascent is straightforward but very steep in places. It involves a scramble towards the top where it becomes rocky. Our target is the North Peak at 4600m, separated from the slighty higher South Peak by a dramatic, jagged caldera ridgeline. Please note in wet weather the final 200m can be extremely slippery and on occasion we might have to abandon this last section. After the ascent we return to our hacienda just outside Otavalo. Total hiking time is approximately 9 hours/15km.See more images and videos

We have breakfast at the hacienda before driving in the late morning to Cayambe. This 5790m extinct volcano is Ecuador's 3rd highest peak and while a little lower than Cotopaxi, the climb is considerably more technical due to the very active glaciers. We will have lunch in the refuge and spend the afternoon hiking up to the lower glaciers (if the weather is reasonable) on which we start honing our ice-skills. We'll be practicing on the ice at about 4700m and this combined with spending the night at the refuge (4650m) will give our lungs a good test and provide excellent acclimatisation. Today's walking distance is approximately 4km.See more images and videos

11Day 11Ice skills training; to Quito.

We begin today's practice session at 4am so that we'll be used to walking on the snow in the dark when it comes to climbing Cotopaxi. There will be breakfast in the refuge and we'll then head back out onto the ice to explore a little of the peak's beautiful glaciers. As well as continuing with our ice skills the plan will be to walk up to 5000m (or higher) on the glacier today. We'll then walk back down to the refuge for lunch and afterwards drive back to Quito. Today's total walking distance is approx. 5km. After a tough couple of days at around 5000m, this will give our bodies time to rest, recover and prepare for the final push on Cotopaxi.
Cyambe although not as high as Cotopaxi is a much more demanding and technical climb. For those with prior mountaineering knowledge and technical ice experience a guided attempt at an ascent of Cayambe (5790m) can be organised for this day, at extra cost. The climb starts shortly after midnight and returns to the lodge in time for lunch with the group before returning to Quito. Please advise us well in advance if you would like to take up this option so that we can organise the guides. Ideally you should advise us of this before the trip - payment of $300 is made locally.See more images and videos

12Day 12Free day in Quito.

Today is a free day in Quito. There are many possible optional day excursions in and around the city, some of which require prior organisation with your leader. The museums, cathedrals and old town can easily keep you occupied inside the city, or you may want to consider trips to the equator line or the cloud forest reserves.See more images and videos

13Day 13To Cotopaxi N.P.; hike to mountain hut (4800m).

We drive south to Cotopaxi National Park today. Close to the park entrance we will meet the guides who will accompany us on Cotopaxi. On a clear day the mountain is clearly visible from the Cotopaxi Plateau, and with binoculars we can pick out the route of the climb. We then drive up to the end of the vehicle track at 4600m, and walk for an hour to the Cotopaxi refuge at 4800m. We have some final time to practice walking on the glacier for any who still feel they need it, then return to Jose Rivas Hut, for a detailed briefing about the climb, supper and an early night!
Any clients choosing not to climb will be dropped off at the lower and more comfortable Tambopaxi Mountain Lodge. From here the national park can be explored but the leader will continue on with the climbers to the Cotopaxi refuge.See more images and videos

14Day 14Climb Cotopaxi (non climbers hike in N.P); to Quito.

We start our climb around 0h30 a.m. after a light breakfast and begin the 6-8 hour climb to the summit (5897 metres). The first hour is on scree, after which we climb onto the glacier itself, probably the most difficult part. It is then a long, steep slog on snow, with the final 200m becoming increasingly steep and challenging. There are some impressive crevasses on the way, and a massive rock face known as Yanasacha, around which the trail bends. After a short (and often very cold) stay on the summit to admire the remarkable views into the 500-metre-wide smouldering crater and out across the highlands, it takes about 3-4 hours to descend to the hut. The final ascent is a total walking distance of approx. 4km. Back at the refuge we will have some light refreshments and relax for half an hour or so and then walk back to the car park (a 20 minute descent) where our vehicle will be waiting. At this point we say farewell to our guides and then drive down the mountain and on to Quito. Any clients who chose not to climb will have a guided hike amongst the beautiful scenery and lakes of Cotopaxi National Park at the foot of the volcano before returning to Quito with the group. There will be time this afternoon to rest after the climb before our farewell group dinner this evening. See more images and videos

Accommodation details

Hotels

In Quito we stay in a charming boutique hotel well located for restaurants and sightseeing. We also spend two nights in a beautiful hacienda before and after the Pinan Trek, and another two nights in a hacienda close to Otavala. Both properties are tastefully decorated and are set in delightful gardens and have a bar and dining room. While on the Pinan Trek we camp. We use spacious two person tents and there is also a separate kitchen and dining room tent as well as toilet tents. Whilst camping all tents will be erected and taken down for you and you will be woken with a hot drink and personal washing water every morning. We stay in a communal mountain refugee for a night on Cayambe and a night on Cotopaxi. Both were substantially renovated in 2015 and are clean, modern and spacious.

Optional single supplement available from GBP235 (not available at Cayambe or Cotopaxi)

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
British passport holders do not need a visa for Ecuador. Very few other nationalities need a visa for Ecuador, but if you are in any doubt you should contact the nearest Ecuadorian Embassy.
Please note that if flying via the US (even as a transit passenger) you must clear US immigration. Most UK citizens are eligible for visa-free travel, but you must register on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which costs USD14 and is valid for two years. Please go to http://www.exodus.co.uk/USvisa for more information.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Typhoid and Hepatitis A. If you will spend any time in the Amazon Rainforest we recommend a Yellow Fever vaccination. Please note that your certificate of vaccination may be inspected on arrival to this region. Malaria is also a risk in some areas of the country (including the Amazon Rainforest) so we suggest you consult a Doctor for more advice.
Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Holiday style

This trip has been graded 6: Challenging/Tough for the trekking. The Cotopaxi climb has been graded 8: Tough/ Tough+

(Please note that the grading of this trip has changed following the publication of the 2015 Walking & Trekking brochure)

This trek is suitable for people in good physical condition who are able to trek comfortably for 8 hours a day on very steep terrain and at altitude. Much of the trek is off trail and on uneven ground, which can become extremely muddy and slippery in bad weather. Most of the walking is at altitude between 3000 and 4500 metres.

Participants in the Cotopaxi climb must be in very good physical condition. You do not need experience in climbing, but the altitude and steep gradient are a real challenge and in bad weather the trek will be even more challenging. Ice-skills are taught and practiced during the trip prior to reaching Cotopaxi and this will enhance your chance of success. These sessions are compulsory. Previous experience of trekking at high altitude is also highly recommended.

The training and acclimatisation provided on this trip are aimed at giving you the best chance of summiting Cotopaxi. Although the success rate is good it will still be determined by the weather. Please note that that walking hours stated are given as approximates only. Timings stated usually include a half hour lunch stop and brief photo stops but can vary depending on the pace of your group.

Altitude maximum 5897m, average 4000m

Eating & drinking

All breakfasts, 11 lunches and 9 dinners are included. Breakfasts are generally fruit, bread, butter and jam, often served with eggs. While trekking all food is prepared by the local staff and will generally consist of three courses (soup, main and dessert) and boiled drinking water for your water bottles is provided each morning and evening. There will be plenty of soft drinks available during the trek. Lunches when hiking are packed and consist of sandwiches with snacks and chocolate.
Vegetarians are catered for throughout the trip, although as is the case in much of Latin America, vegetarian meals often involve substituting meat with more vegetables.

If you have any special dietary requirements, please inform us well in advance so that we can advise the local staff of your needs.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want
to know about this trip, including detailed itinerary and full kit list.

Weather & seasonality

In Quito and the highlands it should be warm by day and generally dry. Maximum daytime temperatures are almost constant throughout the year at 20ºC, nights 8ºC. Some rain can be expected in February to May and October to November but storms, though heavy, are generally short. Quito is considered to have quite a pleasant climate. In the May to September dry season, night time temperatures in the highlands can fall quite dramatically in a short space of time.

Cotopaxi generates its own microclimate and so unlike many peaks in the Andes, can be climbed year round. Generally the best climbing season for all of Ecuador is considered to be November through to February/early March, but these are considered slightly worse times of the year for trekking lower down, so really all seasons offer advantages. Rain, snow and wind are possible at any time of year and our group's success depends more on luck with the weather and acclimatisation than in which season they attempt the mountain!

Reviews & community

Ecuadorean people are welcoming and there are relatively few tourists so that on the trekking you are quite likely to see no other tourists on the trail. Learn a little basic Spanish before you go. In Quito you can communicate in English in a limited way, and people aren't snotty about it as in some countries. But a little Spanish goes a long way.

I enjoyed the trip hugely. I achieved my objectives of seeing another South American country, seeing the interesting city of Quito and climbing four Andean peaks averaging 15,000+ ft . Yes, there was the disappointment of Cayambe and Cotopaxi being closed to further ascent (by bad weather and bad weather plus eruption respectively) so we never got a realistic crack at those. But you can't plan for this. Big mountains make their own rules and I feel I made the most of the alternative climbs and possibilities we were offered.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The point when I could feel my body properly acclimatised, well hydrated and having had wonderful food and I knew then I felt confident of climbing anything. On the question of food, it was a high of this trip for me. I'm vegetarian and had some delightful dishes throughout, none more so than, amazingly, prepared by cook Paco high in the mountains camping during the Pinan trek.

What did you think of your group leader?

The group was just four males, all of whom had booked singly and we got along very well right from the start. Though we were of different ages, spanning 35 years, we were of comparable experience and ability and this really helped.

Tour leader Diego, a freelance professional guide from Quito, accompanied us throughout and was outstanding in every way - knowledgeable, sympathetic, adaptable to the unexpected and very good company.

I must also mention the manager of Campus, the Ecuador company which Exodus uses on the ground, Marjolein. Though she didn't accompany us we met her twice and she too was helpful and thoroughly likeable. She particularly came into her own when, the night before Cotopaxi, we had to decide as a group whether we were going to try and ascend it with gas masks she provided (the fumaroles were creating an environment high in sulphur dioxide near the summit) or whether we were going to change tack and tackle a different mountain.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Exodus graded my trip as Tough/Tough+, the latter relating to the ascent of Cotopaxi. Pay heed to this. Quite apart from Cayambe and Cotopaxi the acclimatisation trekking and three prior mountain ascents were hard work but very satisfying and highly effective at enabling acclimatisation. By 7-10 days I was thoroughly acclimatised and so the ascent of Ruminahui ,4740m on the last day (in lieu of erupting Cotopaxi which was, in any event, too windy and dangerous to summit) and was no more challenging in terms of breathless etc than Dales or Peak District walking in the UK. I felt as if I could have climbed anything.

So, this is not a trip for causal, occasional or flat-ground walkers. The walk-in is far more demanding than, say, the walk-in to Kilimanjaro which is simple trekking moving gradually up the mountain.You should be a regular hill walker, capable of sustaining day-long trekking up and down without sore knees, then getting up and going off again the next day. You should do gym work to build your cardiovascular fitness and thigh strength. Imbabura and Ruminahui involve scrambling towards the tops and so familiarity and profiency at Grade 1 scrambing with long drops below would be a decided advantage.

Take two sets of boots - a stiffish soled B1 or, better, a B2 for all but Cayambe and Cotopaxi as well as an insulated boot (double plastics are ideal) for these two cold mountains.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Consider going in November-February. The guides told me that the high winds on Cayambe and Cotopaxi - because of which we had to turn back - are lighter in our UK winter.

An excellent experience but serious thought needs to be given to the difficulty of Cotopaxi.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Should have been reaching the summit of cotopaxi, but this didn't happen.

What did you think of your group leader?

Diago was very friendly, organised and comunnicated well with the groupl. He was very approachable and spoke very good English.

Unfortunately he was the only guide and the group of 12 divided into 2 different abilities on the ascents of the earlier volcanoes.

I was in the slower group and we lost contact with Diago and the front group on several occaions.

I have never been on a trek where there is not a back marker.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

The climb to summit Cotopaxi is extremely challanging and must be achieved in a set time. I have summited several peaks in Nepal, at a slow pace and with help from the guides. The climbing guides for Cotopaxi only guided and did not help.

Given time and help I feel I could have acheived more on Cotopaxi, so slightly dissapointed.

My advice is - Do not under-estimate the difficulty of this climb.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Although the above sounds a bit negative this was a fantastic trek.

The acclimatisatin process works well and the trekking was fabulous. Helped by a jovial group and very good weather.

The organisation was excellent and the hotel in Quito and the 2 Haciendas were way above my expectations for comfort and lovely places to stay.

The food was plentiful and varied. Even 3 course dinners when camping!

We had an enjoyable day refreshing and learning new glacial skills on Cayambe. The following early morning walk was challanging and a taster of what was to come on Cotopaxi.

Back in 1987, Alistair bought a bucket-shop ticket to Islamabad, picked up the Karakoram Highway and headed over to China and then south through India to Ceylon over to Indochina via the Indonesian Archipelago to Papua New Guinea. Finally stopping after nine months for a refuel in Melbourne, the finest city in the southern hemisphere. He didn't leave for three years. His passion for trekking high peaks in the Andes is matched only with the need to find the perfect live Indie music gig, the more alternative the better!

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

What is the success rate for Cotopaxi?

According to statistics from Ecuador, the success rate of summit attempts on Cotopaxi is about 70% for those with ice experience prior to their summit attempt and only 30-50% for those without. The success rate for non-experienced people in difficult weather and ice conditions is only 0-10%. With the training and acclimatisation provided on this trip, the success rate is high and is mainly determined by the weather.

Karol Rogacki - Americas Operations

Is altitude a problem?

This trip goes to high altitudes where there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Although rare, a number of medical conditions can also reduce your body’s ability to acclimatise, and thus will affect your performance at altitude and make you more susceptible to AMS. If you are worried about any pre-existing condition (e.g. heart problems), or unsure of your physical ability, we recommend that you seek medical advice prior to booking.

Dan Cockburn - Product Manager

Do I need specialist equipment for Cotopaxi?

For the Cotopaxi climb, plastic boots are highly recommended (these can be hired in Quito if necessary, see below), hat, gloves, full windproof and waterproof, full warm clothing, sunglasses suitable for glacier use, 50 litre rucksack, ice-axe and crampons, harness, gaiters. Ice-axe, crampons, harness and gaiters can also be hired in Quito - local prices below:

Equipment hire prices (US$/day). Equipment hire should be pre-booked but it will be paid for locally after arrival.

I'm travelling via the US, do I need a visa?

Most clients are eligible to travel via the US under the US Visa Waiver Programme, however to do this you must register for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority). This must be done prior to departure - more details can be found at www.exodus.co.uk/usvisa.

Rebecca Caldicott - Customer Operations

Do I take dollars to Ecuador?

Since US dollar is the official currency of Ecuador it is definitely the best option to go for. Sterling. although not necessarily very difficult to change. may incur a poor exchange rate. ATMs are becoming more common but you shouldn't rely on them 100% in case there are any problems. Exchanging travellers cheques could be a pretty time consuming operation.Obtaining change for larger denomination banknotes (US$100 and US$50) can be very difficult, and in many cases they may not even be accepted (especially $100 notes) so our suggestion is not to bring them with you at all. You may find it strange but people in Ecuador (and other South American countries) could be a bit fussy about the condition of banknotes and may not be happy to accept a torn or heavily used note (the higher denomination, the more likely it is).If flying to the Galapagos you will be asked to pay $110 in cash to cover for the immigration control card ($10) and Galapagos tax ($100). If you are sailing on the Cacholote, you will actually only need some money for alcoholic drinks on board (soft drinks $1.50, beer $2, cocktails $3-6), gratuities and souvenirs. You will need to take a bit more cash with you if you want to hire snorkelling equipment or a wetsuit on the boat. Cards or travellers cheques are not accepted on board the yacht and ATMs in the Galapagos are very limited.

Karol Rogacki - Americas Operations

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

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